Heatable windshield washer nozzle

ABSTRACT

The heatable windshield washer nozzle is designed for mounting on the windshield wiper of a motor vehicle. The washer nozzle consists of a housing ( 1 ) with a connection adapter ( 2 ). This connection adapter ( 2 ) connects to a spray water hose ( 19 ) electrically heatable via cables ( 22 ) or woven wires molded into it, while the ends ( 23 ) of the heating cables ( 22 ) are electrically bridged across just before the end ( 24 ) of the hose. The housing ( 1 ) is further equipped with a chamber ( 5 ) for storing a nozzle body ( 6 ) and includes a heating plate ( 28 ) above the nozzle body ( 6 ) as well as a cover ( 8 ) for closing the chamber ( 5 ). Here the nozzle body ( 6 ) is designed as a flat chip with several channels ( 26 ) fanning outward from a central water input opening ( 25 ). In keeping with the invention, a bar ( 29 ) is formed on the rim ( 32 ) of the heating plate ( 28 ), which completely covers the surface of the nozzle chip. This bar extends into the connection adapter ( 2 ), so that when the heated spray water hose ( 19 ) is slipped onto the connection adapter ( 2 ), the ends ( 23 ) of the heating cables ( 22 ) extend over the bar ( 29 ) of the heating plate ( 28 ) without making contact.  
     This has the advantage that the heat generated by the heating cables is transferred to the heating plate without direct contact with the bar of the heating plate, and further that the heated heating plate can transfer its heat directly to the spray water even to the very end of the channels, so that an optimal heating of the spray water is ensured.

[0001] The invention proceeds from a heatable windshield washer nozzle for mounting on the windshield wiper of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of Claim 1. Such a windshield washer nozzle is known, e.g., from DE 198 33 142 A1. Here the nozzle housing is fastened onto the wiper arm by means of a clamp device and also has a connection adapter for a heatable spray water hose, while the heating cables are embedded, i.e., molded, in the hose material along the water line. The heating element is located in a separate chamber above the spray nozzles and is connected by direct plug connection to the ends of the heating cables projecting out of the hose. Then the raised flap over the heating element is lowered and engaged with the edge of the housing.

[0002] The aim of this washer nozzle arrangement is to position the heating element as close as possible to the washer nozzles in order to achieve the best possible heating of the spray fluid all the way into the washer nozzle and thus to keep the spray water in the liquid state even when the exterior temperature is below the freezing point. However, because the heating element is connected to the heating cable by means of a plug contact, the channel with the nozzles carrying the spray water must be separated from the heating element with the plug contact in the housing by an intervening wall, so that the heat of the heating element is transferred to the spray water only partially, i.e., incompletely. Establishment of the electrical connection via the plug contact is also rather complicated, since to this end the two heating cables must first be exposed at the end of the hose and then soldered to a plug.

[0003] The objective of the invention is to simplify the heat transfer from the heating wires to the heating element and at the same time to improve the transfer of the heat to the spray water in the nozzle. This objective is realized according to the invention in that located directly above the body of the nozzle is a heating plate, completely covering the surface of the chip, which projects into the connection adapter with a bar formed on the edge of the plate, and that, when the heatable spray water hose is slipped onto the connection adapter, the electrically bridged ends of the heating cables extend over the bar of the heating plate without making contact with it.

[0004] This makes it possible for the heat produced in the heating cable [sic] by the heating cables to be transferred to the heating plate without direct contact with the bar, and for the heated heating plate to transfer its heat directly to the spray water even to the very end of the channels, so that an optimal heating of the spray water is ensured.

[0005] These and additional characteristics of the invention, which are set forth in the subordinate claims, are explained in greater detail with reference to the embodiment example illustrated in the appended drawings.

[0006] These depict:

[0007]FIG. 1, in an “exploded” oblique view, the heatable washer nozzle in its individual parts;

[0008]FIG. 2, the assembled washer nozzle in oblique view;

[0009]FIG. 3, the washer nozzle mounted on a wiper arm and spraying a windshield;

[0010]FIG. 4, The assembled washer nozzle in a side view, with a section through the water hose fitted onto the connection adapter;

[0011]FIG. 5, the assembled washer nozzle in a top view, with a section through the washer nozzle housing along line V-V in FIG. 4, and

[0012]FIG. 6, the same washer nozzle in a front view, with a section through the connection adapter along line VI-VI in FIG. 4.

[0013] The windshield washer nozzle depicted in the figures consists of a housing (1) with connection adapter (2) formed on the side, and a similarly formed clamping device (3) for mounting the housing (1) on the wiper arm (4) of a windshield wiper for motor vehicles. The housing (1) has an open-topped chamber (5) for holding a nozzle body (6) as well as a heating plate (7). The chamber (5) is closed by a cover (8), which is formed with two opposing, molded on side walls (9) laterally. Provided on the free end of the elastically expandable side walls (9)—with their tips (10) opposing—are engagement edges (11), which, once the cover (8) has been pressed on, engage with engagement surfaces (12) projecting approximately at right angles behind the lower housing edge (13) and thus keep the chamber (5) closed (see FIG. 2).

[0014] The clamping device (3) formed on the housing (1) has two expandable clamping arms (14) with opposing engagement edges (15) formed on their free ends. These clamping arms (14) are separated from each other and are (15) adapted in the position of their engagement edges to the cross section of the windshield wiper arm (4), and are so formed on the housing (1) that, once the clamping arms (14) have been mounted on the wiper arm (4), the connection adapter (2) is oriented approximately parallel to the wiper arm (4) and is secured in the axial direction by suitable fixation means.

[0015] The connection adapter (2) provides the input of the spray water into the chamber (5) of the nozzle housing (1), and to this end is provided with a central throughput bore (16), which empties out at the base (17) of the chamber (5). The cylindrical adapter (2) has on its free end a conically divergent insertion wall (18) over which the elastically expandable water hose (19) is slipped. Along the water conduit (21) in the hose casing (20) of the water hose (19), electrically heatable cables (22) are formed, the ends (23) of which are bridged across shortly before the end (24) of the hose (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Electrical wire mesh, which also heats the hose (19) over its entire length, can be molded into the spray water hose (19) instead of heating cables (22).

[0016] The nozzle body (6) is preferably designed as a flat chip, and is provided with a central spray water input opening (25) that aligns with the throughput bore (16) of the connection adapter (2). Several channels (26) fan outward on the semicircular front side of the chip projecting out of the chamber (5) fan outward, which are connected with the input opening (25) by a wider central duct (27) (see FIG. 5). The spray water leaves the nozzle body (6) through these channels (26) and sprays the glass windshield (34) with so-called micro-streams (33) (see FIG. 3).

[0017] After assembly, the upper side of the nozzle (6) is completely covered by the heating plate (28), and is thereby sealed off so as to be watertight. Formed on the rim of the heating plate (28) is a narrow bar (29), that in the fully assembled state extends into the connection adapter (2). A groove (31) is provided in the outer casing (30) of the connection adapter (2) to receive the bar (29). The bar (29) is preferably so dimensioned that the surface of the bar (29) forms a positive seal with the outer casing (30) (see FIG. 6).

[0018] When the spray water hose (19) is attached, the end (24) is slipped onto the connection adapter (2) in such a way that the two connected ends (23) of the heating cables (22) run parallel to the bar (29) of the heating plate (28) without actually making contact. The heat generated by the heating cables (22) then not only prevents the spray water from freezing over the entire length of the hose (19) but also is sufficient to transfer enough heat via the bar (29) to the heating plate (28), so that the spray water is protected against freezing to the very end of the channels (26). 

1. Heatable windshield washer nozzle for mounting on the windshield wiper of a motor vehicle, consisting of a housing (1) with a connection adapter (2) for a spray water hose (19) heatable via electrically conductive cables or wire mesh, of a clamping device (3) for mounting the housing (1) on a wiper arm (4), of a chamber (5) for holding a nozzle body (6), of heating element (7) positionable above the nozzle body (6) and heatable via the heating cables (22) of the spray water conduit (21), and of a cover (8) for closing the chamber (5), wherein the nozzle body (6) is designed as a flat chip with several channels (26) fanning out from a central water input opening (25) communicating with the connection adapter (2), characterized in that, positioned directly above the nozzle body (6) and completely covering the surface of the chip is a heating plate (28), which projects into the connection adapter (2) with a bar (29) formed on the plate rim (32), and that, when the heatable spray water hose (19) is slipped onto the connection adapter (2), the electrically bridged ends (23) of the heating cables (22) extend over the bar (29) of the heating plate (28) without making contact.
 2. Heatable windshield washer nozzle according to claim 1, characterized in that the bar (29) is embedded in a groove (31) formed in the outer casing (30) of the connection adapter (2).
 3. Heatable windshield washer nozzle according to claim 2, characterized in that the bar (29) forms a positive seal with the outer casing (30).
 4. Heatable windshield washer nozzle according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that channels (26) open at the top are sealed by the heating plate (28) so as to be watertight. 